U.S. patent number 10,416,494 [Application Number 14/894,356] was granted by the patent office on 2019-09-17 for blue-phase liquid crystal devices, blue-phase liquid crystal display modules, and the manufacturing methods thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yuejun Tang.
United States Patent |
10,416,494 |
Tang |
September 17, 2019 |
Blue-phase liquid crystal devices, blue-phase liquid crystal
display modules, and the manufacturing methods thereof
Abstract
A blue-phase liquid crystal display module, a blue-phase LCD,
and the manufacturing method are disclosed. The blue-phase liquid
crystal display module includes an up substrate, a down substrate
and blue-phase liquid crystals. The down substrate is opposite to
the up substrate, and the blue-phase liquid crystals are arranged
between the up substrate and the down substrate. The pixel
electrodes and the common electrodes are alternately arranged on
the down substrate, and the pixel electrodes and the common
electrodes are spaced apart from each other. Electrical fields are
formed between the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes to
drive the blue-phase liquid crystals. The blue-phase liquid crystal
display module may form a plurality of IPS electrical fields such
that the driving voltage of the blue-phase liquid crystals may be
effectively reduced.
Inventors: |
Tang; Yuejun (Guangdong,
CN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. |
Shenzhen, Guangdong
Wuhan, Hubei |
N/A
N/A |
CN
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics
Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, Guangdong, CN)
Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
(Wuhan, Hubei, CN)
|
Family
ID: |
54904811 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/894,356 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2015 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 27, 2015 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/CN2015/092917 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
November 26, 2015 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2017/067011 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
April 27, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170192261 A1 |
Jul 6, 2017 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 20, 2015 [CN] |
|
|
2015 1 0685236 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F
1/133555 (20130101); G02F 1/1336 (20130101); G02F
1/137 (20130101); G02F 1/134363 (20130101); G02F
1/1333 (20130101); G02F 1/13439 (20130101); G02F
2001/133624 (20130101); G02F 2001/13793 (20130101); G02F
2001/133354 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02F
1/1335 (20060101); G02F 1/13357 (20060101); G02F
1/1333 (20060101); G02F 1/1343 (20060101); G02F
1/137 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Dung T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cheng; Andrew C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A blue-phase liquid crystal display module, comprising: a top
substrate; a lower substrate opposite to the top substrate, and the
lower substrate comprising a transmission area and a reflective
area; blue-phase liquid crystals arranged between the top substrate
and the lower substrate; first pixel electrodes, and each of the
first pixel electrodes comprising a top pixel electrode layer and a
lower pixel electrode layer being separated by a first insulation
layer; first common electrodes, and each of the common electrodes
comprising a top common electrode layer and a lower common
electrode layer being separated by a second insulation layer;
wherein the first pixel electrodes and the first common electrodes
are alternately arranged within the transmission area of the lower
substrate, and second pixel electrodes and second common
electrodes, alternately arranged within the reflective area of the
lower substrate, wherein the second pixel electrodes are of a
dual-layer structure comprising only one pixel electrode layer
stacking on a third insulation layer, and the second common
electrodes are of a dual-layer structure comprising only one common
electrode layer stacking on a fourth insulation layer; a distance
between the lower pixel electrode layer and the lower substrate is
defined as d1, a distance between the lower pixel electrode layer
and the top pixel electrode layer is defined as d2, and a distance
between the top pixel electrode layer and the top substrate is
defined as d3, wherein 2d1=d2=2d3.
2. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of the lower
pixel electrode layer of the first pixel electrode and the height
of the lower common electrode layer of the first common electrode
with respect to the lower substrate are the same.
3. The module as claimed in claim 2, wherein a height of the top
pixel electrode layer of the first pixel electrode and the height
of the top common electrode layer of the first common electrode
with respect to the lower substrate are the same.
4. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode
layer of the second pixel electrode and the common electrode layer
of the second common electrode are respectively stacked on two
insulation layers separated by an abandoned electrode layer.
5. The module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the height of the
second pixel electrodes is the same with the height of the top
pixel electrode layer or the lower pixel electrode layer of the
first pixel electrode, and the height of the second common
electrodes is the same with the height of the top common electrode
layer or the lower common electrode layer of the first common
electrode.
6. The module as claimed in claim 5, wherein electrical signals are
not applied to the abandoned electrode layer within the reflective
area when the module is electrified.
7. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of the lower
pixel electrode layer of the first pixel electrode and the height
of the lower common electrode layer of the first common electrode
with respect to the lower substrate are the same, and a height of
the top pixel electrode layer of the first pixel electrode and the
height of the top common electrode layer of the first common
electrode with respect to the lower substrate are the same.
8. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of a
liquid crystal cell is defined as h1, and d1+d2+d3=2h1.
9. A blue-phase liquid crystal device (LCD), comprising: a
blue-phase liquid crystal display module comprising: a top
substrate; a lower substrate opposite to the top substrate, and the
lower substrate comprising a transmission area and a reflective
area; blue-phase liquid crystals arranged between the top substrate
and the lower substrate; first pixel electrodes, and each of the
first pixel electrodes comprising a top pixel electrode layer and a
lower pixel electrode layer being separated by a first insulation
layer; first common electrodes, and each of the common electrodes
comprising a top common electrode layer and a lower common
electrode layer being separated by a second insulation layer;
wherein the first pixel electrodes and the first common electrodes
are alternately arranged within the transmission area of the lower
substrate, and second pixel electrodes and second common
electrodes, alternately arranged within the reflective area of the
lower substrate, wherein the second pixel electrodes are of a
dual-layer structure comprising only one pixel electrode layer
stacking on a third insulation layer, and the second common
electrodes are of a dual-layer structure comprising only one common
electrode layer stacking on a fourth insulation layer; a distance
between the lower pixel electrode layer and the lower substrate is
defined as d1, a distance between the lower pixel electrode layer
and the top pixel electrode layer is defined as d2, and a distance
between the top pixel electrode layer and the top substrate is
defined as d3, wherein 2d1=d2=2d3.
10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a height of the lower
pixel electrode layer of the first pixel electrode and the height
of the lower common electrode layer of the first common electrode
with respect to the lower substrate are the same.
11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a height of the top
pixel electrode layer of the first pixel electrode and the height
of the top common electrode layer of the first common electrode
with respect to the lower substrate are the same.
12. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pixel electrode
layer of the second pixel electrode and the common electrode layer
of the second common electrode are respectively stacked on two
insulation layers separated by an abandoned electrode layer.
13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the height of the
second pixel electrodes is the same with the height of the top
pixel electrode layer or the lower pixel electrode layer of the
first pixel electrode, and the height of the second common
electrodes is the same with the height of the top common electrode
layer or the lower common electrode layer of the first common
electrode.
14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein electrical signals
are not applied to the abandoned electrode layer within the
reflective area when the module is electrified.
15. The module as claimed in claim 9, wherein a height of the lower
pixel electrode layer of the first pixel electrode and the height
of the lower common electrode layer of the first common electrode
with respect to the lower substrate are the same, and a height of
the top pixel electrode layer of the first pixel electrode and the
height of the top common electrode layer of the first common
electrode with respect to the lower substrate are the same.
16. The module as claimed in claim 9, wherein a thickness of a
liquid crystal cell is defined as h1, and d1+d2+d3=2h1.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to liquid crystal display
technology, and more particularly to a blue-phase liquid crystal
display module, a blue-phase liquid crystal device (LCD), and the
manufacturing method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Compared to the conventional liquid crystal materials, the
blue-phase liquid crystals are characterized by four attributes as
below. First, the response time of the blue-phase liquid crystals
is within sub-millisecond, and the blue-phase liquid crystals may
be driven at 240 Hz without adopting Over Drive technology. As
such, the dynamic blur issue of motional images may be effectively
decreased. When RGB-LED is adopted as a backlight source. The field
sequential color timing display may be achieved by the blue-phase
liquid crystals without the color filter film. Second, the
alignment layer, which is necessary for other display modes, is not
needed for blue-phase liquid crystals. Third, The blue-phase liquid
crystals are optical isotropy, which results in a wide viewing
angle and a better dark state. Fourth, the impact caused by the
thickness of the liquid crystal cell toward the transmission rate
may be ignored if the thickness of the liquid crystal cell is
larger than the transmission depth of the electrical field. This
attribute is appropriate for large-scale panel or single-late
LCD.
Nevertheless, the driving voltage of the blue-phase liquid crystals
are too huge. Usually, the blue-phase liquid crystals with enhanced
performance, such as material having large Kerr's constant, may be
adopted, but a plurality of factors, such as monomer, photo
initiator, and synthesis conditions have to be considered when the
materials are composited. Thus, the cost of adopting enhanced
blue-phase liquid crystal is really high. In addition, an enhanced
electrode structure may be adopted. In view of the driving method
of the IPS structure, the transmission depth of the lateral
electrical field generated by the parallel electrodes is limited,
and the electrical field has to be increased due to a larger
driving voltage is needed. Thus, the IPS driving method for the
blue-phase liquid crystals has to be enhanced.
SUMMARY
The object of the invention is to provide a blue-phase liquid
crystal display module, a blue-phase LCD, and the manufacturing
method thereof, which are capable of solving a large driving
voltage issue of the blue-phase liquid crystals of the conventional
blue-phase LCD.
In one aspect, a blue-phase liquid crystal display module includes
an up substrate, a down substrate opposite to the up substrate;
blue-phase liquid crystals arranged between the up substrate and
the down substrate, pixel electrodes and common electrodes are
alternately arranged on the down substrate, and the pixel
electrodes and the common electrodes are spaced apart from each
other, and electrical fields are formed between the pixel
electrodes and the common electrodes to drive the blue-phase liquid
crystals.
Wherein the pixel electrodes are of a dual-layers structure on the
down substrate, and the two adjacent pixel electrode layers are
spaced apart from each other via the insulation layer; and the
common electrodes are of the dual-layers structure on the down
substrate, and the two adjacent common electrode layers are spaced
apart from each other via the insulation layer.
Wherein the pixel electrodes are of a dual-layers structure
comprising a first layer on an up surface of the down substrate and
a second layer spaced apart from the first layer via the insulation
layer; and the common electrode are of the dual-layers structure
comprising a first layer on the up surface of the down substrate
and a second layer spaced apart from the first layer via the
insulation layer.
Wherein a height of the second layer of the pixel electrode and the
height of the second layer of the common electrode with respect to
the down substrate are the same, and the second layers of the pixel
electrode and the common electrode are on the same plane.
Wherein the down substrate comprises a reflective layer dividing
the display module into a transmission area and a reflective
area.
Wherein the pixel electrodes are of a layer-stack structure on the
down substrate, and the two adjacent pixel electrode layers are
spaced apart from each other via the insulation layer; and the
common electrodes are of the layer-stack structure on the down
substrate, and the two adjacent common electrode layers are spaced
apart from each other via the insulation layer.
Wherein the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes within the
transmission area are of a dual-layers structure, a first layer is
arranged on the down substrate via the insulation layer, and the
second layer is spaced apart from the first layer via the
insulation layer, and first layers of the pixel electrode and the
common electrode are on the same plane, second layers of the pixel
electrode and the common electrode are on the same plane; and the
pixel electrode and the common electrode within the reflective area
are of a single-layer structure
Wherein the pixel electrode and the common electrode within the
reflective area are on the same layer with first layers or second
layers of the pixel electrode and the common electrode within the
transmission area.
In one aspect, a blue-phase LCD including the above blue-phase
liquid crystal display module is provided.
In one aspect, a manufacturing method of blue-phase liquid crystal
display modules includes: forming a first electrode layer on a down
substrate; forming an insulation layer on the first electrode
layer; forming a second electrode layer on the insulation layer;
arranging a masking plate comprising a plurality of parallel slots
on the second electrode layer; radiating the masking plate by
unidirectional ultraviolet (UV) rays to form a gap between a pixel
electrode and a common electrode via an etching process; and
filling in blue-phase liquid crystal and closing the up
substrate.
Wherein the insulation layer are made by transparent materials.
In view of the above, the blue-phase liquid crystal display module,
a blue-phase LCD, and the manufacturing method may form a plurality
of IPS electrical fields to effectively reduce the driving voltage
of the blue-phase liquid crystals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments, the following
figures relate to simple examples regarding some of the
embodiments. For those of ordinary skill in terms of creative
effort without precondition, other drawings may be obtained based
on the drawings provided.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module in accordance with one embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module of FIG. 1 when being electrified.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module in accordance with a second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module of FIG. 3 when being electrified.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the abandoned electrode layer
arranged on a top of the liquid crystal display module in
accordance with one embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module in accordance with a third embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one transformed embodiment of
the third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module of FIG. 6 when being electrified.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the blue-phase LCD in accordance with
one embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the manufacturing method of the
blue-phase liquid crystal display module in accordance with one
embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the first electrode layer, the
insulation layer, and the second electrode layer formed on the down
substrate by the manufacturing method of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the manufacturing method of FIG. 10
etching the gap between the electrodes.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the electrodes of FIG. 12 after the
etching process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
embodiments of the invention are shown.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module in accordance with one embodiment. The blue-phase
liquid crystal display module includes, but not limited to, an up
substrate 100, a down substrate 200, blue-phase liquid crystals
300, and a plurality of common electrodes 500 and a pixel
electrodes 400 between the up substrate 100 and the down substrate
200.
Specifically, the down substrate 200 is opposite to the up
substrate 100. The blue-phase liquid crystals 300 are arranged
between the up substrate 100 and the down substrate 200. The pixel
electrodes 400 and the common electrodes 500 are arranged on the
down substrate 200. The pixel electrodes 400 and the common
electrodes 500 are spaced apart from each other and are arranged in
an alternated manner. The electrical field is formed between the
pixel electrodes 400 and the common electrodes 500 for driving the
blue-phase liquid crystals 300.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module of FIG. 1 when being electrified. In the embodiment,
the pixel electrodes 400 having a layer-stack structure are
arranged on the down substrate 200. An insulation layer 600 is
arranged between two adjacent pixel electrodes 400. The common
electrodes 500 having the layer-stack structure are arranged on the
down substrate 200. The insulation layer 600 is arranged between
two adjacent common electrodes 500. In the embodiment, the pixel
electrodes 400 is of a dual-layers structure including a first
pixel electrode layer 410 and a second pixel electrode layer 420.
The first pixel electrode layer 410 is arranged above an up surface
of the down substrate 200. The second pixel electrode layer 420 is
spaced apart from the first pixel electrode layer 410 via the
insulation layer 600. Similarly, the common electrodes 500 are also
of the dual-layers structure having a first common electrode layer
510 and a second common electrode layer 520. The first common
electrode layer 510 is arranged on the up surface of the down
substrate 200, and the second common electrode layer 520 is spaced
apart from the first common electrode layer 510 via the insulation
layer 600. The insulation layer 600 may be made by transparent
materials, such as transparent photoresist glue, SiNx, SiOx, or
Over coating (OC).
The second layers of the pixel electrodes 400 and the common
electrodes 500 are at the same altitude with respect to the down
substrate 200. Referring to FIG. 2, the height of the first pixel
electrode layer 410 of the pixel electrodes 400 with respect to the
down substrate 200 is H1, the height of the first common electrode
layer 510 of the common electrodes 500 with respect to the down
substrate 200 is H2. Preferably, H1=H2. That is, the second layers
of the pixel electrodes 400 and the common electrodes 500 are at
the same plane.
Referring to FIG. 2, the electrical field is shown by the area
formed by the dashed lines. The two second electrode layers at the
same layer form IPS electrical field. In addition, two IPS
electrical fields are formed between the up surface and the down
surface of the electrodes and between the pixel electrode and the
common electrode at the same layer. In addition, the IPS electrical
field is formed between the up surfaces of the first electrode
layers at the same layer. That is, the electrode structure as shown
may form three horizontal IPS electrical field for driving the
blue-phase liquid crystals. Compared to the conventional blue-phase
liquid crystals driven by the pixel electrode and the common
electrode respectively formed on the up and the down substrate, the
electrode structure may effectively reduce the driving voltage of
the blue-phase liquid crystals.
In the embodiment, the rectangular protrusions are configured with
the blue-phase liquid crystal display module, and the up layer and
the down layer of the rectangular protrusions are provided with the
electrode layers. Preferably, the same electrodes are arranged at
the up layer and the down layer of the same protrusions, which may
be the pixel electrode or the common electrode. The common
electrode and the pixel electrode are spaced apart from each other.
The IPS electrical field is formed between the electrodes on the
second electrode layer, and two IPS electrical fields are
respectively formed at the up and the down surfaces between the
electrodes arranged at the up layer, i.e., the pixel electrode and
the common electrode. The IPS electrical field is formed on the up
surface of the electrode at the down layer, i.e., the first
electrode layer. Compared to the conventional structure, the
electrode structure is capable of forming three IPS electrical
fields to drive the blue-phase liquid crystals to effectively
reduce the driving voltage of the blue-phase liquid crystals.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module in accordance with a second embodiment. In the
embodiment, a reflective layer 210 is arranged on the down
substrate 200 to divide the display module into a transmission area
and a reflective area. The transmission area is at the left side of
the dashed line, and the reflective area is at the right side of
the dashed line. Within the transmission area, both of the pixel
electrodes 400 and the common electrodes 500 are of dual-layers
structure. The first layer is arranged on the down substrate 200
via the insulation layer 600, and the second layer is spaced apart
from the first layer via the insulation layer 600.
Preferably, the first layers of the pixel electrodes 400 and the
common electrodes 500 are on the same plane, and the second layers
of the pixel electrodes 400 and the common electrodes 500 are on
the same plane. Within the reflective area, the pixel electrodes
400 and the common electrodes 500 are of single-layer structure. In
the embodiment, the pixel electrodes 400 and the common electrodes
500 within the reflective area are at the same plane with the
second layers, i.e., the top layer, of the pixel electrodes 400 and
the common electrodes 500 within the transmission area.
During the manufacturing process of the electrode, in order to form
the electrode structure within the transmission area and the
reflective area at the same time, the manufacturing method is
simplified. When the first layer of electrode within the
transmission area is formed, the abandoned electrode layer 700
within the reflective area is also formed. When the LCD is under
operation, the layer may be the abandoned electrode layer at which
the signals are not transmitted.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module of FIG. 3 when being electrified. The electrical
signals are not applied to the abandoned electrode layer 700 within
the reflective area. When the same signals are applied to the
transmission area and the reflective area, the blue-phase LCD is in
a bright state. As shown in FIG. 4, the dashed circle indicates
that there are four IPS electrical fields formed on the up and down
surfaces of the electrodes within the transmission area of the
blue-phase LCD. Thus, the strength of the electrical fields within
the transmission area may be four times of that of the conventional
IPS electrical field. At the same time, the strength of the
electrical fields within the reflective area may be as double as
that of the conventional IPS electrical field. The signals are not
applied to one layer of the dual-layers electrode within the
reflective area, that is, the abandoned electrode. FIG. 5 is a
cross-sectional view of the abandoned electrode layer arranged on a
top of the liquid crystal display module in accordance with one
embodiment. The difference between the embodiment and the previous
embodiment resides in that, in the previous embodiment, the
abandoned electrode layer 700 is the top-layer electrode.
The height of the first electrode layer with respect to the down
substrate 200, the distance between the first electrode layer and
the second electrode layer, and the height of the second electrode
layer with respect to the up substrate 100 are respectively defined
as d1, d2, and d3. The d1, d2, d3 may be adjusted such that the
thickness of the optical anisotropy within the transmission area
formed under the electrical field may be as double as that within
the reflective area. As such, when the same signals are applied to
the reflective area and the transmission area, consistent optical
anisotropy may be obtained.
The testing panels having different predetermined d1, d2, and d3
may be manufactured. Preferably, the values may be selected in
ranges around 2d1=d2=2d3 and d1+d2+d3=2h1. The h1 in the drawing
relates to a thickness of the cell, which results in that the
effective range of the top of the electrode within the transmission
area is approximately in a middle position of d2. In addition, the
blue-phase liquid crystals are filled within the testing panels.
The relationship between the voltage and transmission rate (V-T) of
the transmission area and the reflective area of the testing panels
may be represented by characteristic curves. If the tolerance range
of the characteristic curves of the transmission area and the
reflective area of the testing panel is consistent, the phase delay
amount of the transmission area is substantially double than that
of the reflective area. As such, the above relationship of the
testing panel may be the reference values in real production. The
altitude of the insulation layer of the protrusion and the distance
between the protrusion and the up substrate may be controlled such
that the effective phase delay amount of the transmission area is
as double as that of the reflective area so as to obtain consistent
optoelectronics when the same signals are applied to the
transmission area and the reflective area.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module in accordance with a third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional view of one transformed embodiment of the third
embodiment. In the previous embodiment, the signals are not
transmitted to the abandoned electrode layer, which may affect
display performance due to capacitance coupling effect. Thus, in
this embodiment, the abandoned electrode layer is not manufactured.
The pixel electrodes 400 and the common electrodes 500 within the
reflective area connects to the down substrate 200 via the
insulation layer 600 directly.
Preferably, the pixel electrodes 400 and the common electrodes 500
within the reflective area may be at the same plane with the first
electrode layer or the second electrode layer of the pixel
electrode and the common electrode within the transmission area.
Thus, FIGS. 6 and 7 have shown two possible configurations. The
electrode layer is pretty thin when compared to the insulation
layer, and thus the defects of the electrode layer has slight
impact toward the height of the reflective area. Thus, in FIG. 7,
the pixel electrodes 400 and the common electrodes 500 within the
reflective area and the second electrode layers of the pixel
electrodes 400 and the pixel electrodes 400 within the transmission
area may be viewed as on the same plane.
As shown in FIG. 6, the reflective layer 210 is arranged within the
down substrate 200 to divide the display module to the transmission
area and the reflective area. The transmission area is at the left
side of the dashed line, and the reflective area is at the right
side of the dashed line. The pixel electrodes 400 and the common
electrodes 500 are of dual-layers structure. The first layer is
arranged on the down substrate 200 via the 600 via the 600, and the
second layer is spaced apart from the first layer via the
insulation layer 600. The insulation layer 600 may be made by
transparent materials, such as transparent photoresist glue, SiNx,
SiOx, or Over coating (OC).
Preferably, the first layers of the pixel electrodes 400 and the
common electrodes 500 within the transmission area are on the same
plane, and the second layers of the pixel electrodes 400 and the
common electrodes 500 are on the same plane. The pixel electrodes
400 and the common electrodes 500 within the reflective area are of
single-layer structure. In the embodiment, the pixel electrodes 400
and the common electrodes 500 within the reflective area and the
first layer (middle layer) of the pixel electrodes 400 and the
common electrodes 500 within the transmission area are at the same
plane.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module of FIG. 6 when being electrified. The dashed circle
has shown four IPS electrical fields formed between the up and down
surfaces of the electrode. Thus, the strength of the electrical
fields within the transmission area may be four times of that of
the conventional IPS electrical field. At the same time, the
strength of the electrical fields within the reflective area may be
as double as that of the conventional IPS electrical field. As
such, the driving voltage of the blue-phase LCD can be effectively
reduced.
The height of the first electrode layer with respect to the down
substrate 200, the distance between the first electrode layer and
the second electrode layer, and the height of the second electrode
layer with respect to the up substrate 100 are respectively defined
as d1, d2, and d3. The d1, d2, d3 may be adjusted such that the
thickness of the optical anisotropy within the transmission area
formed under the electrical field may be as double as that within
the reflective area. As such, when the same signals are applied to
the reflective area and the transmission area, consistent optical
anisotropy may be obtained.
The testing panels having different predetermined d1, d2, and d3
may be manufactured. Preferably, the values may be selected in
ranges around 2d1=d2=2d3 and d1+d2+d3=2h1. The h1 in the drawing
relates to a thickness of the cell, which results in that the
effective range of the top of the electrode within the transmission
area is approximately in a middle position of d2. In addition, the
blue-phase liquid crystals are filled within the testing panels.
The relationship between the voltage and transmission rate (V-T) of
the transmission area and the reflective area of the testing panels
may be represented by characteristic curves. If the tolerance range
of the characteristic curves of the transmission area and the
reflective area of the testing panel is consistent, the phase delay
amount of the transmission area is substantially double than that
of the reflective area. As such, the above relationship of the
testing panel may be the reference values in real production. The
altitude of the insulation layer of the protrusion and the distance
between the protrusion and the up substrate may be controlled such
that the effective phase delay amount of the transmission area is
as double as that of the reflective area so as to obtain consistent
optoelectronics when the same signals are applied to the
transmission area and the reflective area.
As shown in FIG. 7, the common electrode and the pixel electrode
within the reflective area are on the same plane with the top
electrode within the transmission area. The characteristics of
other components may be referred to the embodiment in FIG. 6, and
thus are omitted hereinafter.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the blue-phase LCD in accordance with
one embodiment. The blue-phase LCD includes the above blue-phase
liquid crystal display module. The blue-phase LCD may include a
housing 800 and components such as a control circuit (not shown),
which may be conceived by persons ordinary in the art and thus are
omitted hereinafter.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the manufacturing method of the
blue-phase liquid crystal display module in accordance with one
embodiment. The method includes, but not limited to, the following
steps.
In block S410, a first electrode layer is formed on the down
substrate.
In block S420, the insulation layer is formed on the first
electrode layer.
In block S420, the insulation layer may be made by transparent
materials, such as transparent photoresist glue, SiNx, SiOx, or
Over coating (OC).
In block S430, a second electrode layer is formed on the insulation
layer. FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the first electrode layer,
the insulation layer, and the second electrode layer formed on the
down substrate by the manufacturing method of FIG. 10. In FIG. 11,
the reference numeral 200 relates to the down substrate, the
reference numeral 405 relates to the first electrode layer, the
reference numeral 600 relates to the insulation layer, and the
reference numeral 504 relates to the second electrode layer.
In block S440, a masking plate having a plurality of parallel slots
is arranged on the second electrode layer.
Before the step of arranging the masking plate on the second
electrode layer, the method further includes the step arranging a
photoresist layer 605.
In block S450, unidirectional ultraviolet (UV) rays are adopted to
radiate the masking plate to form the gap between the pixel
electrode and the common electrode via an etching process.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the manufacturing method of FIG. 10
etching the gap between the electrodes. In FIG. 12, the reference
numeral 900 relates to the masking plate, the reference numeral 910
relates to a blocking area of the masking plate, the reference
numeral 920 relates to the slot area, which is a hollow area. The
reference numeral 1000 relates to the UV rays. The UV rays radiate
the masking plate vertically, and the electrode layer and the
insulation layer within the slot area 920 are etched. The electrode
layer and the insulation layer under the blocking area 910 are kept
so as to form the structure of FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a schematic view
of the electrodes of FIG. 12 after the etching process. In one
example, the electrode and the insulation layer are etched via
positive photoresist. At the same time, the electrode and the
insulation layer may be etched via negative photoresist. It can be
understood that the electrode and the insulation layer may be
etched by methods other than positive or negative photoresist. The
etching process may be dry or wet etching, which may be conceived
by persons skilled in the art, and thus are omitted hereinafter.
The reference numeral 400 relates to the pixel electrode, and the
reference numeral 500 relates to the common electrode.
In block S550, the blue-phase liquid crystals are filled in and the
up substrate is closed.
After block S550, the blue-phase liquid crystal display module, as
shown in FIG. 2, is formed. The blue-phase liquid crystal are
filled between the up and down substrates, and between the gap
between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. The
manufacturing method of the blue-phase liquid crystal display
module ends.
In addition, the manufacturing method of the blue-phase liquid
crystal display module may be formed by the following process. The
first electrode layer is formed on the down substrate, the
electrode patterns of the first electrode layer are formed by the
etching process, the insulation layer and the second electrode
layer are formed, the etching process is applied in the end. The
principles of the two methods are similar, and only the sequences
of the steps are slightly different.
The manufacturing method of the blue-phase liquid crystal display
module is simple and easy to implement. With respect to the display
module formed by the manufacturing method, the rectangular
protrusions are configured with the blue-phase liquid crystal
display module, and the up layer and the down layer of the
rectangular protrusions are provided with the electrode layers.
Preferably, the same electrodes are arranged at the up layer and
the down layer of the same protrusions, which may be the pixel
electrode or the common electrode. The common electrode and the
pixel electrode are spaced apart from each other. The IPS
electrical field is formed between the electrodes on the second
electrode layer, and two IPS electrical fields are respectively
formed at the up and the down surfaces between the electrodes
arranged at the up layer, i.e., the pixel electrode and the common
electrode. The IPS electrical field is formed on the up surface of
the electrode at the down layer, i.e., the first electrode layer.
Compared to the conventional structure, the electrode structure is
capable of forming three IPS electrical fields to drive the
blue-phase liquid crystals to effectively reduce the driving
voltage of the blue-phase liquid crystals.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages
will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be
apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of
its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely
being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
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